Trump recommends 50% tariff rate on EU products
US President, Donald Trump has said that he is recommending a straight 50% tariff rate on the European Union beginning on June 1, 2025.
In response, the Tánaiste, Simon Harris has said a negotiated solution remains the "goal and preferred outcome" of talks with the US.
The Tánaiste said: "Ireland’s consistent position, and that of the EU, is that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States.
"Tariffs are a bad idea. They’re bad for Ireland, the EU, and the US. They push up prices for consumers and businesses. We have built a relationship of prosperity, jobs and investment based on working together and trading together."
"Negotiations remain the main focus for both the EU and Ireland and our deep and enduring relationship with the United States merits a more sustained and substantive engagement in the period ahead in a bid to bring about a negotiated settlement," he added.
The Tánaiste said he continues to keep in close contact with the European Commission, and with industry to "navigate the current challenges".
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has said that President Trump's decision is "enormously disappointing".
The Taoiseach said: "I welcomed the pause in tariffs until early July to allow for continued negotiations between the EU and the US, and ideally an agreed outcome.
"I have always been clear in my view that tariffs are damaging to all sides – those imposing them, those on the receiving end and, most importantly, to businesses and consumers."
"The EU has been engaging in good faith in that process and I understand Commissioner Sefcovic was due to talk to his US counterpart again this afternoon," he added.
The Taoiseach believes that tariffs at the suggested level would not only push prices up, but they would "grievously damage" the EU - US trading relationships, as well as disrupting wider global trade.
Last month, April 2, 2025, President Trump announced a series of reciprocal tariffs on other nations, including 20% on European Union imports to the US.
A week later, April 10, the president announced a 90-day pause on the higher rate of tariffs on imports to the US from the EU and other countries, except China.
In the intervening period, the European Union published a list of countermeasures that would be placed on US tariffs.
In a social media post today (May 23) President Trump said that discussions with the EU on a trade deal "are going nowhere".
President Trump said: "The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on trade, has been very difficult to deal with.
"Their powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, ridiculous corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers, monetary manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American companies, and more, have led to a trade deficit with the US of more than $250 million a year."
"Our discussions with them are going nowhere. Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States," President Trump added.
